The Top 100 Executives Of 2010

Our class of Top 100 executives made blockbuster acquisitions, took to the skies to bring partners into the cloud computing stratosphere, and embraced solution providers like never before to power sales growth.

Cloud leadership was just one key to success in 2010. Our list includes a technology visionary moving at blinding speed into the cloud (VMware’s Paul Martiz), a Microsoft maverick bucking the system to deliver comprehensive cloud programs (Eric Martorano) and a cloud channel champion charting a new course for an old-guard company (CA’s Adam Famularo). It also includes a channel leader who made big gains in simplifying the broadest and deepest channel program in the industry (HP’s Stephen DiFranco).

How did we choose these executives? The list was based on nominations from solution providers and industry executives rating channel influence, effectiveness and visibility, along with business and sales impact. Among the criteria were channel sales volume, channel investment and resources, channel advocacy and visibility, and performance in Everything Channel research projects (including the Annual Report Card and Channel Champions). A panel of Everything Channel editors made the final selections.

Here are the 100 top executives in the industry: the 25 most influential, the top 25 innovators, the top 25 mavericks and the top 25 channel sales leaders.

CRN's Top 25 Channel Sales Leaders are the executives who’ve had the greatest impact on sales volume through channel partners for their specific companies in the last year. Here's a look at who made the cut in part 3 of our list.